“I want to thank the Lord for Tyler Kolek,” Brunson said on TV after his game-winning 3 in Indianapolis on Thursday night, a game in which he admittedly didn’t play well. “Playing the way he’s playing, saving me.”

Tyler Kolek sent another message that he’s deserving of a real chance at more minutes and the Knicks' backup point guard spot.

Kolek was set to earn roughly $2 million this year. The prize money for winning the Cup is $530,933 per player. As Hart scored the final basket of the game, he looked over at Kolek and flashed a money sign with his hands. It was fitting, because in Vegas, he became Kasino Kolek.

In the locker room, Kolek revived an iconic championship photo by Kobe Bryant. He was seen holding the trophy in front of him, his head down. Bryant popularized that photo after the 2001 NBA Finals. Knicks sophomore Tyler Kolek recreates the Kobe championship photo pic.twitter.com/AfXKgybBQl

It was likely his best game of the season — and perhaps career. “Tyler did a fantastic job today, our young fella, of impacting winning,” Karl-Anthony Towns said. “He did that on a big stage tonight.

With two minutes and 29 seconds left in the NBA Cup Finals between the Knicks and the Spurs, Jalen Brunson turned the ball over while being guarded full court by Dylan Harper. Knicks head coach Mike Brown turned to the bench and yelled for backup point guard Tyler Kolek to re-enter the game for Jordan Clarkson.

There is a reason that New York Knicks superstar point guard Jalen Brunson is considered "Mr. Fourth Quarter." And Brunson showed why on Thursday night.